Complex Ranks 26 Top Actors in Their 20s Leading Hollywood's Next Era
Complex released its curated list of twenty-six top actors in their twenties who are building major careers across cinema, television, and stage. The report highlights emerging stars leveraging franchise roles and acclaimed indie performances to drive the entertainment industry.
According to a feature published by Complex, Hollywood studio operations have shifted away from traditional star-driven vehicles toward multi-project franchises and cinematic world-building. In its reporting, Complex published a curated list of 26 actors in their 20s who are succeeding within this new landscape through acting talent, box-office presence, upcoming project slates, and mainstream relevance. Complex reported that entertainment studios now focus on securing young performers early to establish recurring audience engagement across streaming networks and theatrical releases.
The publication noted that recent success in high-profile franchises—such as Sony's Spider-Man movies, Netflix's Stranger Things, HBO's Euphoria, and upcoming X-Men projects—has been driven by this cohort of emerging talent. Among the performers highlighted by Complex is 24-year-old Caleb McLaughlin, who spent nearly a decade playing Lucas Sinclair on Stranger Things. According to Complex, McLaughlin has built a diverse portfolio outside the streaming series, starring in the 2020 film Concrete Cowboy, portraying one of LeBron James's friends in the 2023 biopic Shooting Stars, appearing in Jeymes Samuel's The Book of Clarence, and featuring in the 2024 film The Deliverance.
Complex noted that McLaughlin's upcoming work includes the Joseph Gordon-Levitt-directed project 2034 alongside Rachel McAdams and Joel Edgerton. Complex also featured 27-year-old Amandla Stenberg, who began her film career as Rue in The Hunger Games. Complex reported that Stenberg has moved between social commentary films like The Hate U Give and dark comedies such as Bodies Bodies Bodies. Stenberg took on dual roles in the Star Wars series The Acolyte and voiced Spider-Byte in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
Complex detailed her upcoming roles in the 2026 fantasy project Wildwood alongside Angela Bassett and Mahershala Ali, as well as the 2027 adaptation Children of Blood and Bone directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. The feature emphasized the work of 28-year-old Jharrel Jerome, whose film debut in Moonlight won the Academy Award for Best Picture. According to Complex, Jerome collaborated with director Ava DuVernay on the Netflix series When They See Us, starred in Boots Riley's series I'm a Virgo, and voices Miles Morales in the animated Spider-Verse franchise, with his performance set to return in Beyond the Spider-Verse.
Additionally, Complex recognized 21-year-old Miles Caton for his breakout role as Sammie in Ryan Coogler's film Sinners. Complex reported that Caton transitioned from a background in musical performance—including touring with H.E.R. in 2023—to playing guitar and contributing original music to the Sinners soundtrack. Other notable performers listed by Complex include 29-year-old Hailee Steinfeld, known for True Grit, Hawkeye, and Sinners; 27-year-old Hunter Schafer, recognized for Euphoria, Cuckoo, and the upcoming Blade Runner 2099 miniseries; 29-year-old Sydney Sweeney; 28-year-old Cailee Spaeny; 25-year-old Rachel Zegler; and 23-year-old Dominic Sessa, who portrayed Anthony Bourdain in A24's biopic Tony.
Complex also cited Millie Bobby Brown, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Noah Jupe, Kit Connor, Kiernan Shipka, Cooper Hoffman, Sophia Lillis, Sadie Sink, Michael Gandolfini, and Finn Wolfhard among the prominent talent driving the industry forward.